The Safety Institute (TSI) has found additional incidents of oven doors shattering linked to possible door handle failures in Kenmore model 790 ovens. Since TSI’s July request we found an additional 35 reports of Kenmore shattering oven doors from July 6, 2015 through February 16, 2016. Thirty-one out of the thirty-four incidents were identified as Kenmore model 790 ovens.
In July, The Safety Institute (TSI) requested (Link) that The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) initiate an investigation and a recall of Kenmore model 790 ovens for shattering glass doors. At the time the request was based on more than 300 reported consumer complaints for glass oven door failure from March 2011 through July 2015. The complaints ranged from exploding ovens doors while the appliances are heating, pre-heating and in cleaning mode, as well as doors shattering while being opened or standing idle. Some consumers reported having repeated incidents only to replace their glass doors on multiple occasions.
This time TSI found several consumers complaining of cuts and lacerations. Though the glass is tempered, the doors explode violently and often the consumer complains of stepping on hot glass. We found an additional 12 handle failures; two of which coincided with glass shattering and nine resulted in glass coming loose, separating from the door and/or falling to the floor. Some consumers complained of trying to avoid burns from the hot glass. Each door handle failure was identified as a Kenmore model 790.
Consumers continue to reach out to CPSC and voice frustration to Kenmore. Some new examples reported to www.saferProducts.gov include the following:
December 24, 2015 – Kenmore Elite, oven and stove combination model #790 97473805
For the third time our Kenmore Elite Oven has had the outer glass blow out across the kitchen floor when it was either on or recently had been used. The first time this occurred was in March of 2014, then again in February 2015 and now yesterday December 2015.
The glass shatters across the floor with no warning, we have attempted to contact Kenmore directly but they remove our posts from Facebook and send us a phone number where we sit on hold for hours.
Children could very easily be harmed by this flying glass. It has only been luck that a child has not been in the kitchen when this happened. Although my 10-year-old son was nearby last night when it happened for the 3rd time.
October 7, 2015 – Kenmore Elite oven model #79097473805:
In April of 2013, in the middle of the night, we woke to the sound of loud explosion. We discovered our kitchen and laundry room covered in pieces of glass due to the outer glass door of the oven exploding. We had not used the oven in days. After seeing the force of the blowout, we were very frighten to think of the damaged that could have been done had we been in the kitchen or even worse any of our small grandchildren. So we were hesitant to just replace the glass. We spoke with Sears, and they told us they had never heard of this happening and assured us it was an extremely rare situation. Only after being assured this would not happen again, we arranged for repair. When the service representative came, I was still troubled about this. I questioned the technician and was told that they had not seen this before and assured me it was extremely unlikely.
Last night, 10/6/15, I cooked dinner (using the same oven) for my son and his family. While cooking my 2-year-old grandson and 10-month-old granddaughter were in and out of the kitchen, inches away from the oven. We were taking the food out of the kitchen and placing it on the table in the dining area, when we heard the explosion; immediately we knew the outer glass of the oven door had exploded again. Thank God that none of us were in the kitchen at that moment.
Consumers are also continuing to complain about handle issues ahead of the glass door failures.
December 19, 2015 – Kenmore Electric Range Model #79046589509:
I preheated the oven to 400 degrees and noticed the handle was broken off one of the screws. I thought it had just come loose so I continued. I cooked my food for 12 minutes. When I came to get the food out I turned the oven off went to reach to open the door and the front glass exploded all over the kitchen. The pressure sent the glass about 10ft. Some of the glass hit my foot and caused bleeding. I had also cooked in it the previous night with no issues.
One consumer who didn’t complain of shattering very adeptly explained the issue he is observing with the potential handle defect issue:
August 9, 2015 – Kenmore Gas Range Model #79078573406:
When the oven portion is used; while hot the handle falls off and the stainless steel covering comes apart from the glass and oven door casing. (I have photos) You can not take your food out of the oven or open the oven door or put the parts back together until after the oven door cools off because you will get burned trying to force open the inner door. The glass can burn you if you try to catch it from falling to the floor to prevent it from shattering. Very dangerous incident!!!
While the oven glass is tempered and intended to prevent laceration, lacerative injuries are not uncommon from tempered designs. Oven owners continue to express great concern about the potential for harm and have reported injuries with shattering hot tempered glass which can spray with great force.
TSI’s report has sparked news reports from WPLG in Miami and in WPTV in West Palm Beach, Fl interviewed TSI President Sean Kane for a story airing soon.
CPSC has declined to comment specifically on Kenmore ovens citing 6(b) provisions prohibiting any statements about the specifics of their actions.
“Kenmore should recall these ovens and offer reimbursement for those who have had to pay for repairs” said Sean Kane, TSI founder and President. “We’re also hoping for swift action from CPSC, he added.”
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